Means for etching plates or the like.



G. H. BENEDICT.

MEANS FOR ETCHING PLATES OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 27. I910.

1,176,@2%. Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

m 625%.Q6 c] 60% outrun snares rarnn r carton GEORGE H. BENEDICT, OFCHICAGO, ILLINQIS.

MEANS FOR ETCHING PLATES OR THE LIKE.

1 b all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE H. BENEDICT, acitizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin a Means for Etching Plates or the like, of which the following is adescription.

My invention relates to novel apparatus for carrying out the etchingprocess, and has among its objects, the improvement in the art ofetching half tone plates, or the like, with the least loss of detail, atthe same time holding the greatest possible smoothness of the etched outparts in order that the side walls will lend themselves to faithfulduplication, and the production of a simple, durable, satisfactory andmore eflicient apparatus for carrying out the etching process.

By the employment of the heroin described improvements in the art andapparatus, a finer, sharper and more satisfactory finished product isproduced, at a low cost of operation and maintenance and with a greatdegree of uniformity in quality.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangementand combination of parts herein shown, described and more particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like orcorresponding parts, Figure 1 is a sectional view of a portion of thedevice taken substantially on line 1-1 of Fig- 3. Fig. 2 is a sectionalview of the same taken substantially on line 2 '2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is asectional view taken substantially on line of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a topplan view of the complete machine, and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of thesame.

By my improved method the plate to be etched is alternatel subiected tothe action of an etching fluid and free aeration by gentlv manipulatingthe bath to effect a delicate la ing or washing of the face of theplate. The bath is kept in circulation bv natural means. and the geatest aeration of the plate is attained. This is contradistinction tothe spraying, splashing,

Specification of Letters Patent,

P en ed Mar, 2.1, 1916- Application filed. October 2'7, 1910. Serial No.589,317.

atomizing, or other violent agitating princis ples heretofore used inthe etching processes carried out by other etching processes ormachines.

More specifically, my improvement in the art consists in supporting theplate to be etched face downward over and in prox imity to a bath ofsuitable etching liquid, and then uniformly manipulating the liquid toraise the level of the same sufficiently to cause it to come intocontact at intervals with the plate. The liquid is preferablymanipulated so as to produce substantially a Wave of etching liquid thatgently and uniformly rises and approaches to contact with the platealternately from end to end at a substantially right angle to the faceand at a velocity or flow best suited for the kind of plate to beetched. The preferred apparatus for accomplishing this comprises asuitable receptacle for containing the liquid, a plate supportapproximate the liquid, and a movable transverse midfeather or head,over the top of which the liquid passes similar to Water over a dam,except that in this case the mid-feather or head is moved to produce theflow. Suitable means are also preferably provided to direct the flow ofthe liquid upon the plate and to increase the proportion of liquid thatwould normally travel upwardly at right angles to the face of the plate.

Referring to the drawings, in which the preferred form of apparatus isshown for carrying out the process, 1 is a receptacle or bath container,provided with suitable legs 2 and frame part 3. or their equivalents,and containing a suitable etching liquid. The plate 5 to be etched,which is shown in dotted lines in the rawings, is suitably supported byplate supports 6, or their equivalents. The plate supports may besupported by a ledge '9 at each end of the receptacle,

and are preferably adjusta le relative to each other, so as to carrydifferent sizes of plates. As shown, the plate supports are shoulderedas at 7 and recessed as at 7 so as to retain the plates in position.Ateach end 'of the receptacle 1 also preferably position a splash board9 which prevents washing .or-splashi'ng of the etching liquid when 1112nipulated. Within the receptacle 1 is a movable or reciprocatingpartition 10, which extends with its upper edge substantially proximatethe plate face tobe etched. The partition 10, which may be termed a midfeather, a partition, a Weir, or a head, substantially divides thereceptacle and contents fluid into a pluralityof parts, and may be madeof any suitable material, and of such length and depth as may bedesired. The mid-feather, or head, 10 is carried by a pair of supports14, which may be connected by a cross-bar at the top to afford strengthand rigidity. The supports 14, may be carried by rider's 16 arranged onthe upper edgesof the receptacle sides, or by guide rods 16, recessed inthe sides of the receptacle, and which support cooperating groovedmembers 18 carried by the arms 18, which are secured to the end of thecrossbar 14. In operation the mid-feather and its supports arereciprocated in the receptacle, as hereafter described. If desired, themidfeather 10 may beprovided with deflectors 1111,. extendingtransversely on each side, so that as the mid-feather is moved back andforth the liquid at the bottom of the receptacle is deflected upwardly.I also preferably provide a deflector 12 on each side of themid-featherrlO, same being spaced there from as at 13, the purpose ofthe same being to cooperate with the deflectors 11 and 7 increase thenormal flow of fluid up the advancing face of the mid-feather 10 andagainst the plate as the mid-feather is moved back and forth. The liquidlevel is indicated by the numeral 4, and as shown, the

mid-feather being at one end of its travel the levels are substantiallyas shown for that position. When, however, it is returned to the otherside, the liquid on the advancing side rises and passes through thespace 13, and over the mid-feather or head, at the same time contactingwith the face of the plate, substantially at a right anglethereto,thoroughly and ently laying or Washing the plate face. While some liquidmay pass t over the top of the advancing deflector 12,-

the greater part is directed upwardly against the face of the platethrough the opening 18, as described. If desired, an additionalmanipulator 17 may be arranged on each side of the mid-feather to morethoroughly stir or manipulate the bath. It should be understood that Idonot wish to be understood as I confining myself to the use of thedeflectors 1 212 or 11-11, as the same results would be obtained to amore or less degree without them, or with their equivalents.

-Any suitable means may bepro-vided for reciprocating the head, a verysimple arrangement being shown. Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 5,levers or arms 19 are secured on eachside of the frame by bolts 1,.andep ve ally c nn ted. at 20 to 25, to which is secured an arm orconnecting bar 24:, the opposite end of 24 being secured to a Worm Wheel27 by a bolt 26, or their equivalents.- The worm wheel may be operatedby a Worm 28, driven by a motor 29, As is obvious, as the worm wheel isrotated, the partition is moved back and forth under the plate in thereceptacle. It will be noted that with the reciprocating mechanismshown, the bars 23 have a direct pull or push on the head at thebeginning and end of the heads travel. It is of course understood thatany other equivalent mechanism for reciprocating or moving the head,either mechanically or manually, may be employed.

In operation, the plate 5 ispositioned on the platesupports facedownward over the etching liquid. The head 10 is then reciprocated ormoved back and forth for the required time, in the etching fluid, which.is raised or forced up through one of the spaces 13, depending upon thedirection of travel of the head,'and contacts along the face of theplate alternately from endto end. The fluid thus changes from one sideof the head to the other, more or less of it coming in contact andacting upon the plate as it changes. In operation the'head is preferablyso moved that the laying is uniform and comparatively gentle. The.results secured by this process; and with the apparatus described, areremarkable on account of the smoothness of the etched portions of theplate, because they show no appreciable roughness under moderatemagnification. This is of no small importance Where the plates are to beduplicated by electrotyping or stereotyping,

etc. The very smooth etched surfaces inclicate thatv'the material isremoved in" very small particles, much smaller than when the} surfacesare left in relatively roughcondition. This must of necessityrendersmall. detail and hold accurate dot shapes and sizes more faithfully,and is undoubtedly due to the'gentle manipulation or Wave mo- 1 tion ofthe liquid.

The apparatus; is exceedingly simple,

are scarcely noticeable. The working con- -diti'ons remain more uniformthan usual,

and therefore a greater degree of uniform. tyililtheq l ty 1 f t e W rkis se ured Having thus described my invention, it is obvious thatvarious immaterial modifications may be made in the same Withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention, hence I do not wish to beunderstood as limiting myself to the exact method, or form, arrangement,construction or combination of parts herein shown and described, or usesmentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Adevice of the kind described, comprising a liquid receptacle, means forsupporting a plate therein in proximity to an etching liquid bath, andmeans for manipulating the bath within the receptacle to produce asingle wave extending across the plate and contacting therewith, andtraveling back and forth from one end of the plate to the other.

2. A device of the kind described, comprising an etching liquid bathcontainer, means for supporting a plate to be etched face downward aboveand without the bath with its face in proximity to the normal level ofthe etching liquid bath and means arranged in the bath and movable backand forth therein below the plate, for manipulating and gently raising aportion of the bath to produce a wave of a height whereby the crest ofthe wave will contact with the underside of the plate.

8. A device of the kind described, comprising an etching liquid bath, aplate support arranged in proximity to said bath, and means formanipulating said bath to produce a gentle flow of etching fluid atsubstantially a right angle to the face of the plate from edge to edgethereof and back and forth against the plate from end to end.

4. A device of the kind described, comprising an etching liquid bath andmeans for containing the same, means for supporting a plate entirelywithout and above the normal level of said bath, and reciprocating meansarranged in the bath for ma- 'nipulating said bath to gently raise thesame in contact with the plate.

5. In an etching machine, an etching liquid bath and means forcontaining the same, a plate support arranged within said containingmeans above the normal level of the bath, whereby the plate is normallysupported without the bath, and means ar ranged within said containingmeans and movable back and forth therein for gently raising a portion ofthe bath in contact with the plate alternately from end to end thereof.

6. An etching machine, comprising a receptacle containing an etchingliquid, means for supporting a plate above said liquid. and means formanipulating said fluid and di recting the same against said plate,consisting of a movable partition arranged within the receptacle andextending from side to side and from the bottom to proximate the face ofthe plate, and means for moving said partition.

7. In device of the kind described and in combination, a receptaclecontaining an etching liquid, means for supporting the plate to beetched above and in proximity to said liquid, and means for deflectingsaid liquid against the face of said plate, said means comprising asubstantially vertically disposed agitator extending transversely thereceptacle and fitting proximate the opposite sides and the bottom, withthe upper edge spaced, but in proximity to said plate face, and meansfor uniformly reciprocating said agitator. o

8. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a receptaclecontaining an etching liquid and means for supporting a plate facedownward above said liquid, in combination with means for uniformlydirecting the liquid against said plate face at substantially a rightangle thereto, comprising a movable head arranged within the receptacledividing the liquid into a plurality of parts.

9. An etching machine comprising a receptacle containing a suitableetching fluid, a plate support and fluid manipulator, comprising atransversely movable partition arranged within the receptacle, means forreciprocating said partition, and means for increasing the normal upwardflow of liquid parallel to the advancing side of the partition.

10. An etching machine comprising a receptacle containing a suitableetching fluid, a plate support and a movable head arranged between twosides of the receptacle and extending from the bottom to proximate theface of the plate to be etched, said head provided with a deflectorarranged on each side thereof proximate the lower edge, and means forreciprocating said head.

11. An etching machine comprising a receptacle containing a suitableetching fluid, a plate support and a movable partition arranged betweentwo sides of the receptacle extending from the bottom to proximate theface of the plate to be etched, said partition provided with a deflectorarranged on each side thereof proximate the upper edge and spacedtherefrom, and means for moving said partition.

12. An etching machine comprising a receptacle containing a suitableetching liquid, a plate support and a movable partition arranged betweentwo sides of the receptacle extending from the bottom to proximate theface of the plate to be etched, said partition provided with anauxiliary agitator extending at an angle thereto at each side thereof,and means for moving said partition.

=1 tending from the bottom to proximate the scribing Witnesses.

13. An etching machine comprising a reupper edge, and spaced therefrom,and 10 ceptacle containing a suitable etching liquid, means forreciprocating said head. r a plate support and a inovable'head arrangedIn testimony whereof, I havehereunto between two sides of the receptacleand exsigned my name in the'presence of tWo subface of the plate to beetched, said head prov r GEORGE H. BENEDICT. vided With a deflector oneach side thereof, 7 vVitnesses: proximate the lower edge, and With ade- ROY W. HILL,

fiector on each side thereof, proximate the CHARLES I. COBB Copies ofthis patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingcom'n'flsvsioner intents:

I washingtomnc. 7

